This contest measures both physical and magical strength

The sun began to set, casting dimmed orange rays through the great tree canopy that hung high above Annfayn. Rowan took in the mystical sights of the square as the festivities were in full swing. Small fairies flew through the air, leaving multi-colored sparkling trails in their wake. Magic blasts were fired in the air, creating arcane fireworks. He heard music playing in the distance to aid in carrying the festive atmosphere. It all seemed like a fairy tale come to life.

The sweet aroma of festival food wafted toward Rowan, reminding him that he had skipped lunch and had not eaten anything all day. His stomach grumbled, demanding nourishment. Aislinn and Isolde heard the tell-tale sound of hunger and briefly laughed at his expense.

“This wouldn’t be a festival if we didn’t consume reckless amounts of sweets,” Aislinn announced. “Come, you must try this one. It’s so crispy and sweet.” She pulled him to a food stall and shoved a pastry in his face.

Rowan thought her surprising enthusiasm for food was cute. He smiled, took the flat pastry, and began to eat. His face brightened right away. “This is good!” He exclaimed.

“Heh. It’s not as good as this.” Isolde shoved a savory pastry in his mouth. A crispy crust trapped savory meat inside, and it burst in his mouth.

“Mmm!” Rowan couldn’t open his mouth, but his reaction was more than enough to satisfy Isolde.

Aislinn purchased a warm, sweet drink and unceremoniously poured half of the cup down Rowan’s throat. “You can’t just shove food into this mouth! You could choke him.” She warned Isolde.

Isolde smirked and raised an eyebrow. “I suppose drowning is preferable?” She mocked the Danan princess.

Rowan swallowed what he could and coughed to clear his airway. “Neither is preferable, thank you,” he gasped. Once he caught his breath, Rowan shoved the sweet pastry into Isolde’s mouth and the savory pastry into Aislinn’s mouth, and then he swallowed the rest of the drink Aislinn had bought for him.

With the girls eating the rest of the food they tried to shove in his mouth, Rowan went to the food stall and talked to the Danan chef. “What’s this made of, anyway?” He asked.

The chef was surprised to see a human visit his stall. “Buckwheat flower.”

“Hmm. Aislinn had never heard of chocolate before. Let me share some of my culture’s sweet plans,” he offered. The chef was confused, but he listened as Rowan explained what cocoa beans were and the methods to create chocolate. A nearby Ossorian chef approached and asked for more information. Rowan happily explained how to make chocolate syrup and whipped cream. The Ossorians and Danans were isolationists by nature, so he doubted they would introduce those confections early and alter history.

Aislinn was surprised to see Rowan mingle with both Danans and Ossorians. It came as naturally as breathing to him, despite their isolationist tendencies. She could only smile and watch him make new friends.

Rowan broke from the group that gathered around him and rejoined Aislinn and Isolde. “Food really brings people together,” he told them. “It’s a timeless and universal thing.”

Aislinn pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Rowan’s mouth. “As is running around with food on your mouth, it seems,” she quipped with a cute smile that Rowan thought was adorable.

“Thanks,” he said. Rowan heard a crowd roar in cheers. “What’s going on there?” he asked. The three blended in with the crowd and saw a small group of strong Danans and Ossorians throwing heavy axes into standing logs. The group did well, but only a couple of participants managed to knock their targets down.

“I am definitely trying that,” Rowan decided while rubbing his hands together. A determined look overcame him as he approached one of the mounts. The spectators eyed him with confusion and suspicion. He struggled to lift the heavy axe. The wood handle was rough in his hands, and he worried about getting a splinter.

“Rowan, do you know what you’re doing?” Aislinn warily asked.

“Take the axe, throw it at the log, don’t make a fool of myself in front of these fine people. Easy.” He replied as he lifted the axe and got a feel for its weight.

Isolde briefly chuckled. “This contest measures both physical and magical strength. Getting the axe to stay in the log would be an accomplishment. Making the log fall over would make you an ideal candidate for an imperial knight,” she explained.

Rowan managed to rest the axe on his shoulder. “Really? Honestly, if I can hit the log at all, I’ll take it as a win.” He kept his expectations in check as he lifted the axe above his head and prepared to throw it.

Isolde moved his legs and hips slightly to help guide his throw. Her surprisingly gentle touch made Rowan tense up for a moment. He wasn’t sure if she was wearing perfume or if she just naturally smelled like a fresh meadow. “Don’t miss,” she whispered in his ear, sending tingles down his spine. Aislinn narrowed her eyes in agitation and crossed her arms beneath her chest.

Isolde took the mound beside him and easily lifted the axe. “On my count. One, two,...three!” They both threw their axes at the same time. Isolde’s axe made a log tip, but it did not fall over. Rowan’s axe hit the target, and to his surprise, the axe blade pierced the wood. The crowd cheered their hits and patted them on the back.

Isolde was surprised, but Aislinn simply walked to the log and took note of how far the axe blade pierced. “Some humans can use magic,” she told them.

“I can’t even do card tricks,” Rowan commented while examining his hands for signs of magic. He was disappointed not to find even a single spark.

Aislinn smirked and raised an eyebrow. “And yet you’ve traveled all this way here,” she pointed out the obvious. “I don’t think that man in the mist would send you here to save anyone if you did not possess some magical ability.”

Rowan shrugged. “I didn’t get a chance to ask; he just said 'save them,' and I ran off. I thought he meant my mother and sister,” he explained.

Aislinn walked by Rowan and grabbed his arm to drag him along. “I saw an archery contest being held, and I want to see how well you perform there.”

Isolde scoffed and followed them. “We could have continued to throw axes, Princess. There are no limits on our attempts.”

“Archery takes far more talent and skill than simple axe-throwing,” Aislinn haughtily replied as a confused Rowan followed her.

They reached the archery field, and Aislinn quickly released Rowan and procured two bows and quivers for them. She excitedly handed one of each to Rowan. “Come, I can’t wait to see you strike the target.”

Rowan awkwardly slipped the quiver onto his back. “I’m flattered you think so highly of me, but I have never once used a bow and arrow,” he confessed.

Isolde equipped the quiver and bow on her back. “It’s no matter, I’ll help you.” She suspected that he had never used a bow and that it would be a good opportunity to help him as Isolde had done.

Rowan stood on his mound and nocked an arrow. His stance was clearly awkward and showed his lack of archery skill. Aislinn found his stance adorable and moved to help him. She positioned his body to a proper stance by moving his arms and legs. “There,” she said quietly as she ran her hand along his straightened arm.

Aislinn turned and saw how close she had gotten to him. Rowan turned and saw Aislinn’s face mere inches from his. ‘Beautiful’ was the first word that came to his mind. Her eyes, as pure as the sea, were captivating. Her perfume was intoxicating. Her very warmth threatened to overwhelm him. He saw a shade of pink overtake her cheeks, and her breathing became shallow. He could envision himself moving to close the distance.